Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
Bonus Episode: "Thanksgiving"

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Martyr (died circa 176-235), martyred either in the reign of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius or in the reign of the Roman emperor Alexander Severus: Martyr-link ūna, Martyr-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

She is the patroness of musicians. It is written that as the musicians played at her wedding she "sang in her heart to the Lord." She is said to have been beheaded with a sword.

'Tis also the festival of Saints Philemon & Apphia, Martyrs (died circa 68), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Nero, recipients of the Letter to Philemon: Martyr-link Papa, Martyr-link Alpha, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Epistle.

'Tis also the festival of Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales (died 1584-1679), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I; the Anglo-Scottish kings James VI & I, Charles I, & Charles II; & the English warlord Oliver Cromwell: Martyrs-link LXXXV & Wikipedia-link LXXXV.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Tommaso Reggio, Bishop (1818-1901), founder of the Sisters of Saint Martha: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of This Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Revelation, chapter five, verses one thru ten;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-nine, verses one(b) & two; three & four; & five, six(a), & nine(b);
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter nineteen, verses forty-one thru forty-four.

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Cecilia
The Book of Hosea, chapter two, verses sixteen(b/c), seventeen(c/d), twenty-one, & twenty-two;
Psalm Forty-five, verse eleven;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses one thru thirteen.

Mass Readings—Thanksgiving
The Book of Sirach, chapter fifty, verses twenty-two, twenty-three, & twenty-four;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-five, verses two & three, four & five, six & seven, eight & nine, & ten & eleven;
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter one, verses three thru nine;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter seventeen, verses eleven thru nineteen.

Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

During the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, Thanksgiving became a federal holiday in 1863, during the American Civil War. Lincoln proclaimed a nation day of "Thanksgiving & Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in Heavens," to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.

Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today’s Gospel recounts the Lord’s healing of ten lepers, only one of whom comes back to give thanks. Leprosy frightened people in ancient times, just as contagious and mysterious diseases frighten people today. But more than this, leprosy rendered someone unclean and therefore incapable of engaging in the act of worship. It is not accidental that the person responsible for examining the patient in ancient Israel was the priest. The priest’s job was to monitor the whole process of Israelite worship, very much including who could and couldn’t participate in the temple.

What is so important about worship? To worship is to order the whole of one’s life toward the living God, and in doing so, one becomes interiorly and exteriorly rightly ordered. To worship is to signal to oneself what one’s life is finally about. Worship is not something that God needs, but it is very much something that we need.

Video reflection by Father Roger Lopez, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' This Day

"You produce music, poetry & art, drama, painting & sculpture, & literature. All those things reflect the soul of a nation being influenced by the Spirit of Christ for the perfection of humanity."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' This Day

"My God, I choose all! I don't want to be a saint by halves; I choose all that You will!"
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' This Day

"When we look at the Cross, we understand the greatness of His love. When we look at the crib, we understand the tenderness of His love for you & me, for your family & every family."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997, feast day: 5 September)